Shoe construction, particularly children{3 s shoe or slipper

ABSTRACT

To avoid the necessity of a tongue, and prevent catching of stockings beneath slide-fastener closed shoes, the slide-fastener tapes are made of decorative material and seamed to the top of the respective parts of the upper; in a form of construction, the tapes are of a one-way stretch material permitting lateral stretching and close conformity of the shoe upper to the shape of the foot.

United States Patent lnventor Josef Sailer Kirchhausen, Germany Appl. No. 805,707 Filed Mar. 10, 1969 Patented June 29, 1971 Assignee Esana-Schuhfabrik Sailer 84 Co.

Kirchhausen, Germany Priority Mar. 12,1968

Germany P 16 85 282.7

SHOE CONSTRUCTION, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN'S SHOE OR SUPPER 14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 36/50 Int. Cl. A43b 23/00 Field olSearch 36/50, 51,

113, 2.5 A, 2.5 T, 2.5 H,2.5 E

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,603,144 10/1926 Nichols 36/50 1,799,210 4/1931 Blaskopf 35/51 UX 1,834,582 12/1931 Griffiths 36/50X 2,095,869 10/1937 Hermson... 36/2.5 (A) X 2,3 30,224 9/1943 Ll-lollier... 36/50 FOREIGN PATENTS 686,804 4/1930 France 36/51 Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest Attorney--Flynn and Frishauf ABSTRACT: To avoid the necessity of a tongue, and prevent catching of stockings beneath slide-fastener closed shoes, the slide-fastener tapes are made of decorative material and seamed to the top of the respective parts of the upper; in a form of construction, the tapes are of a one-way stretch material permitting lateral stretching and close conformity of the shoe upper to the shape of the foot.

PATENTEU M29197.

SHEET 1 OF 3 Fig. A

1035M j/i/LEP Inventor PATENTEU JUHZS m .SHEET 2 OF 3 PATENTEU JUN29 I97? SHEET 3 OF 3 SHOE CONSTRUCTION, PARTICULARLY CIIIIILDRENS SIl-IOIE OIR SUPPER The present invention relates to shoes, and more particularly to children's shoes or to slippers in which the upper of the shaft of the shoe is closed by means of a slide fastener.

Shoes, boots, and particularly children's shoes in which a slide fastener is used centrally of the shoe in order to close the two parts of the upper, are usually so constructed that the slide fastener tapes are seamed to the inside of the two parts of the upper. In order to prevent catching of stockings in the teeth of the slide fastener, a tongue or the like is located beneath the slide fasteners to close off the teeth against the foot of the wearer, or against hosiery. In order to prevent marring of the decorative appearance of the shoe, it is usually possible to utilize only a single seam close to the edge of the uppers in order to secure the tapes of the slide fastener. A second seam to interconnect the internally extending tape would be visible from the outside and interfere with the appearance of the shoe. The length of the slide fastener is usually so chosen that it just permits slipping into, and out of the shoe. The slide fastener usually terminates somewhere in the region above the instep. Extending the slide fastener all the way to the tip of the shoe introduces difiiculty in protecting hosiery from the teeth of the slide fastener.

Short slide fasteners have the disadvantage that the end thereof, which is usually held together by metal clips, is exactly in the position of the instep of the wearer, a frequently sensitive spot, which together with the natural stiffness of the slide fastener teeth may cause discomfort. The internal covering tongue, which must be of soft flexible material, therefore is often deformed from the position it should be in, that is under the slider, to roll up or fold back into an undesired location where it not only does not protect the slide fastener, but further may pinch. Additionally, the necessity of providing a protective tongue increases the cost of manufacture of the shoe.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe, or slipper construction in which the slide fastener can be readily attached without requiring an internal tongue, and without danger of pinching hosiery material or causing discomfort to the wearer.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Briefly, the slide fastener has tapes which, themselves, present a decorative appearance, which tapes are sewn on the outside of the portions of the upper, so that the underlying portions of the upper themselves provide a gap or space to prevent catching of hosiery material. The thickness of the upper may be small, in the order of one or several millimeters only. Removing the slide fasteners, however, from direct contact with the foot of the wearer prevents possible catching of hosiery, avoids the necessity for a covering tongue, and further improves the comfort.

The decorative tapes, on which the slider teeth are mounted, may present any kind of patterned appearance, or other plain decorative appearance to match, or to be contrasted with the appearance of the shoe. Particularly suitable decorative tapes are woven bands, for example of Swiss patterns. The tapes may also be of leather, or of synthetic material to match leather uppers, or of contrasting material for decorative appearance.

The present invention further permits carrying the slide fastener all the way down to the tip of the shoe, where a reinforcement may form a stop for the slider, thus facilitating manufacture and decreasing costs.

The invention wili be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a child's slipper to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 2 is a sectional top view along line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4- is a partial perspective view showing a different tip construction;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of the tip of a childs shoe showing a different embodiment; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a different embodiment of the present invention, showing in perspective form the upper edge ofa boot.

The upper 1 of the shoe, which may be for example of some textile material, is formed with the usual central opening 2, which is closed by a slide fastener 3. The row of teeth 4 of slide 0 fastener 3 is carried by side tapes 5. Sid-e tapes 5 are formed as decorative tapes, which are seamed from the top, that is at the outside to the parts of the upper 1. A pair of parallel seam lines 6, 7 secure each one of the tapes to the respective part of the upper. These seam lines are arranged close to the edge of the tapes, as best seen in FIG. 2.

The shoe illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a slide fastener 3 which extends up to the end of the tip of the shoe, facilitating putting the shoe on and taking it off. Seam line 6, 7 can readily be made by semiautomatic apparatus, for example by a fourneedle sewing machine provided with a suitable guide part for rapid and simple seaming. Each one of the needles will then make a row 6, 7, the seaming guide being guided by the edge, or upper surface of the teeth t. Slide fastener 3 terminates adjacent a tip cap 8, which forms a toe protector and further permits extending the slide fastener until almost up to the very tip of the shoe.

The decorative tapes 5 can extend far beyond the ends of the slide fastener teeth 4, so that they themselves can be seamed around the upper edge of the upper of the shoe to form a decorative binding 9 (FIG. I). Extending the tapes in the other direction and, for example, folding them over (as seen in dashed lines at the tip of FIG. 4) can provide an additional tip protection for the shoe.

The exact location of the slide fastener with respect to the respective parts of the upper I of the shoe is left to the choice of the manufacturer. In one construction, the slide fastener can be seamed to the respective parts of the upper in such a manner that the teeth 4 of the slide fastener are practically, or even entirely protected at the inside by the upper itself, as best seen in FIG. 2, where the gap 10 between the parts of the upper is smaller than the width of the teeth.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment in which the row ofteeth 4 of the slider 3 extends at the bottom of the shoe over and beyond the tip of the shoe and up to the lower edge 11 of the shoe upper ll. At the upper end of the slide fastener, the row of teeth 4 extends all the way to the upper edge of the respective part of the upper itself. This construction permits particularly easy manufacture, since the four seams 6, 7 securing the tapes 5 of the slide fastener 3 to the respective part of the upper can be seamed in one single operation which is continuous, by rolling by-the-yard slide fastener material from a continuous supply to the respective shoes to be seamed, and utilizing a four-needle sewing machine. The sole 1.3 of the shoe can then directly form a stop for the slider 14 of the slide fastener 3. No additional upper stop is necessary either, since a separate edge binding 9 may itself form the upper stop for the slider, also closing off in a decorative fashion the upper edge of the respective upper portion.

FIG. 4 illustrates a different embodiment in which a tip cap 15 is seamed across the outside of the tip, the row of teeth 4 of the slide fastener 3 again extending up to the sole 13 of the shoe. The upper edge 16 of the tip cap then will, directly, form a stop for the slider of the slide fastener 3. The tip cap 15 is itself seamed to the parts of the upper by a seaming line 17 which, if the slide fastener 4 is made of plastic, can be seamed directly across the slide fastener without fear of damage to the needles of the seaming machine.

The shoe illustrated in FIG. 5 contains an inner reinforcement tip cap 18, the upper edge 19 of the tip cap 18 again forming a stop for the slider of the slide fastener 3.

The upper end of the slide fastener 3, terminating at the respective portion of the upper 1, can be folded over towards the inside as seen at 20 (FIG. 6) so that the lower end 21 of the chain of teeth 4 will form an upper stop for the slider of the slide fastener. All layers, that is the outer layer of the slide fastener, the upper, and the folded-over end 20 can be seamed to the upper l in one operation. No top binding, or special end stop for the slider is then necessary, again permitting semiautomatic manufacture in which the slide fastener tapes are supplied from a continuous roll.

The tapes 5 of the slide fastener may be made of one-way stretch material, that is may be made of material which is stretchable in a direction transverse to the tape. if such a construction is used, the inner seam 7 (FIGS. 1, 2) is omitted, and the slide fastener tapes are secured to the outside of the respective portions of the upper with only a single row of stitching 6. Forming the tapes of one-way stretch material permits the slide fastener to stretch slightly in a transverse direction, permitting a resilient fitting of the shoe, together with the somewhat stiffer slide fastener against the foot of the wearer, and providing a particularly good and agreeable smooth fit.

The present invention can be applied not only to shoes and slippers, but also to other slide-fastener closed footwear, such as sport shoes, snow boots and the like. The construction in accordance with FIGS. 3, 4, 5 is particularly suitable for children's shoes, which are hardly ever worn out, but rather outgrown, so that during the useful life of the shoe the slider will still function properly closing the tip of the shoe. If the decorative tapes have a lively pattern, stitch and seam lines will not detract from appearance; suede-type finish plastic material can form a particularly pleasing tape for the slide fastener 3. Separate application of decorative tapes, therefore, is avoided, one single operating step applying both a decorative trim and at the same time the structural elements of the slide fastener.

lclaim:

1. In a shoe having an upper and providing a pair of frontseparable parts, and a slide fastener having a pair of tapes carrying engageable tooth elements, one tape each being secured to a respective part ofthe upper to close said parts,

the improvement wherein the tapes of the slide fastener are of decorative material and are sewn on top of the respective parts of the upper forming a visible edge therefor, the tapes being located above the upper to overlie the respective upper over essentially their entire width and positioned on the respective upper to provide for projection of only the engaging tooth elements of the slide fastener beyond the underlying material of the upper to close said parts of the upper beneath the slide fastener together upon closing of said slide fastener and the thickness of the material of the upper spacing the tooth elements of the slide fastener from the foot of the wearer.

2. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein said slide fastener extends to immediately adjacent the tip of the shoe.

3. Shoe according to claim 2 including an inner cap at the tip of the shoe, said inner tip cap forming a stop for the slider.

4. Shoe according to claim 2 wherein said slide fastener extends up to the sole of the shoe, the sole forming a stop for the slider.

5. Shoe according to claim 2 including an outer toe cap at the tip of the shoe, said slide fastener terminating at the toe cap, said toe cap forming a stop for the slider.

6. Shoe according to claim 5 including a seam securing said toe cap to the upper transverse to the direction of the slide fastener, said seam extending over and being seamed over said slide fastener tapes and teeth.

7. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the teeth of the slide fastener extend up to the edge of the tip of the shoe and at the lowermost edge of the upper.

8. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the teeth extend up to the upper edge of the parts of the upper.

9. Shoe according to claim 8 including a binding secured along the upper edge of the upper and extending over the slide fastener teeth and forming an upper stop for the slider of the slide fastener.

10. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the upper ends of the tapes, together with the teeth of the slide fastener, are folded over the upper edge of the upper parts, both the outside and the folded-over end of the slide fastener being seamed to respective parts of the upper.

11. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the tapes of the slide fastener are seamed to respective parts of the upper by at least a pair of parallel seams, one seam being close to the teeth and the other being close to the free edge of the tape.

12. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the tapes ofthe slide fastener are longer than the row of teeth thereon and extend as a single decorative binding edge around the upper edge of the respective upper part.

13. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the tapes of the slide fastener are longer than the row of teeth of the slide fastener and extend in the region of the tip of the shoe, the tapes being folded back upon themselves and seamed to the shoe tip to form a tip reinforcement.

14. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the tapes are positioned on the respective upper such that the respective engaging tooth elements of the slide fastener overlie edge portions of the upper located beneath said tooth elements. 

1. In a shoe having an upper and providing a pair of frontseparable parts, and a slide fastener having a pair of tapes carrying engageable tooth elements, one tape each being secured to a respective part of the upper to close said parts, the improvement wherein the tapes of the slide fastener are of decorative material and are sewn on top of the respective parts of the upper forming a visible edge therefor, the tapes being located above the upper to overlie the respective upper over essentially their entire width and positioned on the respective upper to provide for projection of only the engaging tooth elements of the slide fastener beyond the underlying material of the upper to close said parts of the upper beneath the slide fastener together Upon closing of said slide fastener and the thickness of the material of the upper spacing the tooth elements of the slide fastener from the foot of the wearer.
 2. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein said slide fastener extends to immediately adjacent the tip of the shoe.
 3. Shoe according to claim 2 including an inner cap at the tip of the shoe, said inner tip cap forming a stop for the slider.
 4. Shoe according to claim 2 wherein said slide fastener extends up to the sole of the shoe, the sole forming a stop for the slider.
 5. Shoe according to claim 2 including an outer toe cap at the tip of the shoe, said slide fastener terminating at the toe cap, said toe cap forming a stop for the slider.
 6. Shoe according to claim 5 including a seam securing said toe cap to the upper transverse to the direction of the slide fastener, said seam extending over and being seamed over said slide fastener tapes and teeth.
 7. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the teeth of the slide fastener extend up to the edge of the tip of the shoe and at the lowermost edge of the upper.
 8. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the teeth extend up to the upper edge of the parts of the upper.
 9. Shoe according to claim 8 including a binding secured along the upper edge of the upper and extending over the slide fastener teeth and forming an upper stop for the slider of the slide fastener.
 10. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the upper ends of the tapes, together with the teeth of the slide fastener, are folded over the upper edge of the upper parts, both the outside and the folded-over end of the slide fastener being seamed to respective parts of the upper.
 11. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the tapes of the slide fastener are seamed to respective parts of the upper by at least a pair of parallel seams, one seam being close to the teeth and the other being close to the free edge of the tape.
 12. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the tapes of the slide fastener are longer than the row of teeth thereon and extend as a single decorative binding edge around the upper edge of the respective upper part.
 13. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the tapes of the slide fastener are longer than the row of teeth of the slide fastener and extend in the region of the tip of the shoe, the tapes being folded back upon themselves and seamed to the shoe tip to form a tip reinforcement.
 14. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein the tapes are positioned on the respective upper such that the respective engaging tooth elements of the slide fastener overlie edge portions of the upper located beneath said tooth elements. 